The Double Bind

In the series of lectures from AlanWattsPodcast.com called "Buddhism as Dialogue," Alan Watts talks about the Psychological term "Double Bind". He states that every high society, whether in the East or in the West, tells each of its new members that, "you are required to do something which will be acceptable only if you do it voluntarily" (Buddhism as Diaglogue #4). For example, when I was young I went to an Evangelical church and youth group regularly. I was often told that I was free to choose God or not choose God. And yet, I was also told that I MUST choose God. This is like telling a woman, "You are free to love any person you wish to love, " and at the same time, "You can only love a man." This is a Double Bind.

He spends a great deal of time talking about how a Zen Master will intentionally put a Double Bind on each of his pupils. He will ask them, "Show me who you really are, but you have to be genuine." Or he'll hold up a feather and say, "What is this?" And when the student answers with, "A feather," the Master says, "No! Feather is a sound. What is this really?" In doing this, he is setting up the student with a Double Bind in order to show him (rather expediently) how ridiculous the problem really is. In doing so, he is showing the student that this is the reason that he is in conflict with himself. This is how the Zen Master helps the student experience Satori - or sudden Enlightenment.